Florida voters headed to the polls Tuesday to settle the Democratic and Republican nominees for the state's U.S. House seats, a critical step in determining which party will control Congress after November. The primaries come after Florida Republicans redrew the state's congressional districts, a move designed to net the GOP up to four additional seats in the U.S. House.
The most closely watched Republican race is in the solidly conservative 19th District, which covers southwest Florida including Cape Coral and Naples. Incumbent Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) decided to run for governor, leaving the seat open and triggering a crowded primary with a colorful field of candidates.
Among the contenders are two former lawmakers who previously represented districts in other states: former Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina and former Rep. Chris Collins of New York. Their campaigns have drawn national attention, as have those of former Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis, former Illinois congressional candidate Catalina Lauf, and business owner Greg Bukowski. The list also includes former New York congressional candidate Ola Hawatmeh, Marine veteran and wrestling coach Mike Pedersen, former researcher Linda Sawyer, and media mogul Jim Schwartzel. John Strand, who received a pardon for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, is also running.
On the Democratic side, the marquee matchup is in the newly drawn 20th District in South Florida, where Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is facing former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.). Wasserman Schultz's decision to challenge a Black former lawmaker in a district with a significant Black population has ignited an intraparty clash that echoes broader national tensions within the Democratic Party. This race is part of a broader test for Democratic incumbents in the region.
Elsewhere, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) is seeking a third term in a district that was redrawn to be more conservative-leaning. Before he can focus on his Republican opponent in the general election, he must first defeat Oliver Larkin, a progressive union organizer backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. The DSA's involvement in this race marks a final primary test for the group after a setback in Wisconsin.
The outcome of these primaries will set the stage for November's high-stakes battles. With the redistricting map favoring Republicans, Democrats are fighting to hold onto their seats and make inroads in districts that have become more competitive. Meanwhile, the GOP is looking to solidify its gains, and the results will signal how each party's base is responding to the current political climate.
Polls closed at 7 p.m. EDT, and early returns are expected shortly thereafter. The full results are being tracked as they come in, and political analysts will be watching closely for any upsets or trends that could shape the general election landscape.
This primary day also comes amid broader national attention on voting rules and election integrity, with emergency legal challenges pending in other states. Florida's results will be a key indicator of voter enthusiasm and party momentum heading into the fall.
